DMICDC has the required land in possession for Phase 1

Planning and implementing a project of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor stature is not everyone's cup of tea. But, Alkesh Sharma, CEO and MD, Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Ltd (DMICDC), is a man of action. Whether it is awarding projects for phase 1 or finalising sites for Uttar Pradesh's multimodal logistic hub, Sharma with his team has been instrumental in giving shape to this project, which will see major traction in 2018.   

DMICDC has set an example by installing microgrid solar plants for large industrial units. Tell us more about this project.  
We worked on the Neemrana Solar Power Project in partnership with the Government of Japan. The 6 MW model project consists of a 5 MWp solar power plant which uses thin film technology and feeds power directly to the state grid, and a 1 MWp plant that uses polycrystalline technology with 2 MW diesel generator set integrated with a smart microgrid that feeds power to industrial consumers in the Neemrana Industrial Park. The project is implemented in partnership with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO), Government of Japan, with the solar panels and other equipment like inverters, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, procured from Japanese companies including Hitachi, Kyocera, Itochu, Sharp, Solar Frontier and Kaneka.

Neemrana - spread over 36 acre allocated by the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) in the Japanese Zone - will be managed by the DMICDC Neemrana Solar Power Company Ltd (DNSPCL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of DMICDC.

The DNSCPL has a power purchase agreement with NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd (NVVNL) for the 5 MW solar power plant for a period of 25 years. The overall cost of the project is around Rs 100 crore, of which we have invested around Rs 60 crore. 

Tell us about the progress of DMICDC's integrated industrial township (IIT) at Greater Noida. How is IIT likely to change the scenario of the region?
The proposed site for IIT has an area of approximately 302.63 hectare. DMICDC and GNIDA have formed a separate special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the development and implementation of the proposed IIT at Greater Noida. This is the first early bird project being developed in the National Capital Region (NCR) in Uttar Pradesh and shall adhere to international standards. This will be a 'sustainable-smart-safe' world-class township with state-of-the-art infrastructure. Once developed, it would be one of its kind, serving as a model for other cities.

The salient features of this township are as follows:

• It is located at a road distance of 11 km from Pari Chowk, Greater Noida.
• It is also in proximity to other major proposed landmark developments of the region, such as the integrated transit facility at Boraki (approximately 4 km) and the multimodal logistics hub near Dadri (approximately 6 km), which is likely to improve both passenger and logistics connectivity/movement.
• 50.78 per cent of the industries will be of the non-polluting, non-obnoxious category.
• Residential space provided in the form of group housing targets HIG, MIG, LIG and EWS.
• 24 x 7 water distribution system.
• Urban design accommodates public transport routes.
• Street network planning and block size and orientation promote walkability.
• Mixed use district and neighbourhood centres are included.
• Ample green open spaces (15.39 per cent) are provided in the entire development.
• Fully developed system for solid waste management.
• The concept of zero discharge is encouraged by reusing treated waste.
• Boundary wall of 14 km surrounds the township; hence, a gated, safe community.
• SCADA system to be adopted for remote monitoring and control.
• ICT in the form of command and control centres.
• Wi-Fi at all public places.
• Solar-powered LED street lighting.
• Utility duct is separately planned underground in ROW, which shall avoid digging of roads in future.

What is the progress of DMIC in terms of tenders, projects awarded, etc? 
Things are moving pretty fast now because we have already bid out five packages in Dholera, about four in Shendra and two in Shednra-Bidkin. For this node, we have awarded projects worth Rs 1,200 crore to L&T for building roads and underground utilities over 10 sq km in the Bidkin Industrial Area. The Shendra Bidkin Industrial Area (SBIA) is a large-scale industrial cluster, approximately 15 km from downtown Aurangabad and 8 km east of the Aurangabad Airport. It is planned as a new industrial corridor extending from the existing Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation's Shendra Industrial Park to the town of Bidkin. For the Bidkin area, tender packages for various trunk infrastructure components for the selection of EPC contractors have been approved by the Government of India for Rs 6,414.21 crore. All other necessary clearances including environment clearance have already been accorded by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).

The Government of Maharashtra has transferred the land to Aurangabad Industrial Township Ltd (AITL) and an equity of Rs 849.90 crore has been released by the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT). It is expected that all construction-related activities will be completed by August 2019. Construction work is taking place in full swing in Shendra with all necessary approvals in place. AITL has already begun allotment of land for various industrial and related activities in the proposed smart city.

What is the status of Jodhpur Pali Marwar Industrial Area?
We have already received environment clearance to the proposed Jodhpur Pali Marwar Industrial Area (JPMIA) project. JPMIA, identified as one of the eight investment regions to be developed in the first phase of DMIC, covers a total area of 154 sq km, of which 64 sq km is proposed to be urbanised while the rest is planned as a Peripheral Control Belt with agriculture as the primary activity to avoid haphazard development, especially along roads adjacent to the development sites.

We will be completing JPMIA in three phases (2022, 2032 and 2042). Infrastructure such as roads, water supply and sewage network, electricity supply, CETP and sewage treatment plant will be developed in phase 1 and opened for investors to establish industrial units. The total cost of infrastructure development is estimated at Rs 10,000 crore, with total employment generation projected to be around 90,000 by 2022 and up to 390,000 by 2042.

JPMIA will have top class internal public transport as well as connectivity with neighbouring urban centres in Rajasthan; the development of a 21-km Pali-Sojat bypass is also proposed. Included in the city plan is an integrated multimodal logistics hub (IMMLH) spread over 2 sq km, with the capacity to handle cargo of up to 25 MT per annum to service the region. Industry categories identified as ideal for JPMIA include textile and apparel, building material, motor vehicles and auto components, handicrafts, computers, electronic and optical products, and machinery and equipment, all of which will create significant economic opportunities in Rajasthan.

How difficult was it for DMICDC to acquire land for any of your projects? 
When you look at any DMIC project, we partner with the state government and the land has to be made available by the state. This is a part of the agreement that we sign with the state. Now, when it comes to acquisition, DMICDC, as an authority, looks at unique models.

There is a typical land acquisition model which takes a much longer period and has many issues such as litigation, environment clearance and social accountability. However, we acquire land in a transparent way. For instance, in Greater Noida, the Uttar Pradesh government has appointed GNIDA as a nodal agency to deal with land acquisition. Here, the GNIDA acquired land with consent from the land owner. We then purchase the land at a price recommended by the price fixation committee, which is based on the value of the land.  

What is the status of land acquisition as of now?
The land acquisition process will go on for 25 years. For phase 1 of the project, we have acquired most of the land. This includes around 10,000 acre in Shednra-Bidkin, Maharashtra; 12,500 acre in Gujarat; 1,140 acre in Greater Noida; 1,200 acre in Gurgaon; 1,200 acre in Nangal Chaudhary, Haryana for multimodal logistic hub and 1,600 acre in Gurgaon for a multimodal logistics hub and a multimodal transport hub.

What is the current status of the multimodal logistics hub?
There are two mega projects coming up, which are the biggest multimodal logistics hubs in India.

We have identified Vanraj and Nangal Chaudhary in Haryana, and have already acquired 75 per cent of the required land. Meanwhile, we will be appointing contractors by the end of this year. After Haryana, our next destination is Uttar Pradesh and if this gets approved by next financial year, we will be able to fix the EPC contractor for the Uttar Pradesh site, for which we will start the tendering process by this year's end.

- Rahul Kamat